My name is Joy M. Smith. I received my Doctorate in Pharmacy in 2012 and have been a practicing pharmacist in retail, hospital, outpatient, and managed care settings since graduation. I've also received certifications in aromatherapy and health coaching. After working as a pharmacist for a little over five years, I realized pharmacy was not a long

term plan for me. I felt less aligned with my profession and I didn't want to grow in my role. So I began to do some soul searching to discover my purpose. Realizing what brought me joy came with the understanding that I needed to engage in full-time work that was more meaningful to me.

After much self-reflection and research, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Social Work to approach wellness from the mental health lens. I feel that I can impact change on an individual and systemic level and bring a holistic perspective to this space by coupling

my existing training with new knowledge in social work. I am looking forward to connecting with clients and larger systems to do the work that makes my soul come alive.